Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 September 2025

The minutes from the meeting on 25 september 2025 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Representatives of town or parish councils and members of the public who live, work, or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area are welcome to submit either 1 question or 1 statement for each meeting.  You are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via MS Teams to read out your question and to receive the response.   If you submit a statement for the committee this will be circulated to all members of the committee in advance of the meeting as a supplement to the agenda and appended to the minutes for the formal record but will not be read out at the meeting. The first 8 questions and the first 8 statements received from members of the public or organisations for each meeting will be accepted on a first come first served basis in accordance with the deadline set out below.  Further information read Public Participation - Dorset Council

All submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected]

by 8.30am on 18 November 2025

When submitting your question or statement please note that:

•         You can submit 1 question or 1 statement.

•         a question may include a short pre-amble to set the context.

•         It must be a single question and any sub-divided questions will not be permitted.

•         Each question will consist of no more than 450 words, and you will be given up to 3 minutes to present your question.

•         when submitting a question please indicate who the question is for (e.g., the name of the committee or Portfolio Holder)

•         Include your name, address, and contact details.  Only your name will be published but we may need your other details to contact you about your question or statement in advance of the meeting.

•         questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

•         all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.

There was no public participation.

To receive questions submitted by councillors.  

Councillors can submit up to two valid questions at each meeting and sub divided questions count towards this total.   Questions and statements received will be published as a supplement to the agenda and all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting. 

The submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] by 8.30am on 18 November 2025

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There were no questions from Councillors.

To receive the report from the Corporate Director for Planning and the Environment, Policy & Partnership Manager

The Corporate Director – Planning introduced the Biodiversity Duty report and set the context of the report.

The subsequent conversation covered the following areas.

·       The 30% target and how that will be achieved with regards to the Dorset Council

·       Nature Recovery Dorset was the mechanism for public reporting their changes in terms of nature recovery initiatives.

·       The ability to measure and nuance around measurement approaches.

·       The requirement of guidance from DEFRA before specific actions and monitoring can be initiated.

·       Water ways and water safety and the implications in planning processes to ensure safety and flood management.

·       The biodiversity duty is not the only mechanism for delivering the obligations of biodiversity.

·       The scope of the environmental improvement plan and the properties that are owned by Dorset council’s inclusion in the plan.

·       The local plan’s impact on the biodiversity duty and its role in the realisation of the targets.

·       Farming processes and the role of farms and their opportunities to be involved through partnership working.

·       Funding from local nature recovery strategies enabling the resource to fulfil the reporting requirements.

·       The reporting and monitoring processes and the importance of consideration of the slow time realisation of nature benefits.

The committee were supportive of the approach and there was recognition of the report being out of date and it was to return to the committee with the updated information early in 2026.

To receive the report from the Environment, Policy and Partnership Team Manager

The Environment/Policy/Partnership Manager set out the journey taken by the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy to that point including the summary of consultation and the support. The committee recognised the work undertaken by the team and the visibility of the development of the strategy from the Place and Resources Overview committee.

There was discussion on the formation of Nature Recovery Dorset and its part in the delivery of nature recovery and giving the visibility of projects.

Consideration was given to the reporting needs of Dorset Council and the role of DEFRA in setting metrics nationally.

The role of the Local Recovery Strategy in planning guidance and its role as a positive tool for nature enhancement rather than a planning constraint.

Recommendation(s)

1.       The Committee is asked to note the reporting of the Biodiversity Duty and to agree that the considerations outlined in the 2023 Biodiversity Duty First Considerations Report accurately reflect the position for the 2023 reporting period.

2.       The Committee further recommends that progress on biodiversity enhancement, including delivery through the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy, be regularly monitored and reported to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with national biodiversity targets

The recommendations were proposed by Cllr Jesperson Seconded by Cllr Starr and were unanimously agreed.

To receive the report from the Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement

The Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement and the Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement introduced the report.

There was discussion about the background “Fresh Start” report written by two academics and the findings and language within this appendix that was given to set the scene.

Further discussion recognised the need for training and development for Town and Parish Councils and Councillors if absorbing additional responsibilities.

Consideration was given to the challenges around funding at the Town and Parish council tier and the importance of consideration of Town and Parish desires when absorbing additional responsibilities and the need for practical consideration in the development of those changes.

There was recognition for the importance of community governance review and the potential benefits and implications of that review.

The Place and Resources Overview Committee resolved to not accept the recommendation in the report and requested additional consideration be given to the Statement of Reasonable Expectations between Dorset Council and Town and Parish Councils before it can be recommended to Cabinet.

To review the Place and Resources Overview Committee Work Programme.

To review the Cabinet Forward Plan.

The Committee discussed the work Programme.

To consider any items of business which the Chair has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph x of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.  

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.

There was no exempt business.